Music Has Never Died for Don McLean

“Long, long time ago, I can still remember how that music used to make me smile . . . .

But something touched me deep inside, the day the music died.”

--”American Pie,” by Don McLean

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A long, long time ago, Don McLean was a little-known folk singer who achieved the sort of success most performers only dream about. He had a mega-hit in 1971 with a song he wrote called “American Pie.”

But the music did not die for McLean, who’s coming Friday to the Alex Theatre on a national tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of that hit.

“I’ve done 12 world tours, and I have 40 gold and platinum albums worldwide,” McLean said proudly. “I have a different recording profile on different continents.”

Unlike most hit pop tunes that deal with the many facets of lost love, “American Pie” was an 8 1/2-minute metaphorical paean to the rock-’n’-roll era and generation. The record spent four weeks at No. 1 and sold millions of copies worldwide.

Along with a very singable chorus, its enigmatic lyrics were a large part of its appeal. Thinly veiled references to various rock figures triggered controversy over the “hidden meaning” of the song. Years later, McLean would tell concert audiences that the true meaning of “American Pie” was that he didn’t have to work anymore if he didn’t want to. But, the truth is, he always wanted to.

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In 1972, McLean scored another hit with “Vincent,” a tender ballad to Vincent Van Gogh, and another of his songs, “And I Love You So,” was an international hit for crooner Perry Como. Years later, he again hit the U.S. charts with “Crying,” “Castles in the Air” and “Since I Don’t Have You.” In fact, he’s released 20 American albums in the last 25 years. His latest was “River of Love” in 1995.

But to those who are not part of his legion of stalwart fans, McLean’s work has been both obscured and defined by “American Pie.” And success being the funny thing that it is, there was a period when McLean declined to perform the song in concert. But that period has passed.

“Sometimes I get tired of all the songs I’ve written; I don’t single that one out,” McLean said. “But those nights are not too often. My job is to perform, so even if I’m in that mood, the audience will never know it.”

McLean grew up in New Rochelle, N.Y., where his early musical interests were the pop and rock music of the late 1950s. After attending Villanova University, he became a follower and friend of Pete Seeger and the late Lee Hays, both members of the quintessential folk group the Weavers.

“Pete Seeger was an enormous influence; I wanted to be Pete Seeger,” McLean said. “The Weavers were very important to me. I knew Lee Hays since I was 16 years old.”

Today, McLean still does about 100 dates per year. Last year’s “River of Love” album was recorded in Nashville, but it reflects the joy of family life in Maine with his wife and children.

“I’m in a very wonderful time period right now,” he said. “I have two small children and a very enjoyable wife and we live in a wonderful community.”

Wonderful too for McLean is the resurgence of interest in his material. He owns the rights to all his songs, and McLean the businessman can recite recent sales reports of his various musical products. He just finalized a deal with MCA to re-release six of his albums. Also, several other albums, including his first, “Tapestry,” have been re-released by a record company in England.

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As part of the MCA deal, he’s scheduled to go into the studio next June to record some new material. Additionally, McLean has been asked by the San Francisco 49ers to sing the national anthem for a televised game Sunday, at the personal request of Coach George Seifert.

“I’m so happy to be a person who has written a handful of songs that people love,” McLean said.

Recently, he said, he ventured into a Virgin Megastore in New York and saw “Tapestry,” which was recorded almost 30 years ago, on the shelf.

“It was surrounded by acts I never heard of,” McLean said. “And I thought, ‘This is all right!’ I thought I would last about 30 seconds, and now it’s 30 years.”

DETAILS

* WHAT: Don McLean’s 25th anniversary concert tour.

* WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday.

* WHERE: Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.

* FYI: Tickets are $22.50-$29.50.

* CALL: (800) 233-3123.